An alleged top ranking official of the New People’s Army in Negros Island, who is facing string of murder and frustrated murder charges in court, and his companion, were arrested by the police and Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Sitio Linasgasan, Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday night.

Nabbed was Lorenzo Ferolino, also known as Tisoy, Jamil and Victor, who is facing five murder cases and a frustrated murder charge in court, Chief Inspector Antonio Benitez, Sagay City police officer-in-charge, said yesterday.

The capture of Ferolino and his companion, identified as Clydie Sabete, both of Brgy. Washington, Escalante City, who were on board a Honda XRM 125 motorcycle, yielded a .45 caliber pistol with ammunition, a fragmentation grenade, a .22 caliber Black Widow revolver, medicine, P4,860 in cash, a motorcycle, belongings and subversive documents, Benitez said.

Ferolino, 39, is the alleged secretary of the NPA Northern Negros Front, concurrent intelligence officer of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros (KR-N) Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) and head of its Technical Department, the police investigation showed.

Sabete, 26, is an alleged political instructor and finance officer of the NPA Northern Negros Front, also known as the Roselyn Pelle Command, Benitez added.

Sagay City Judge Reginald Fuentebella and San Carlos City Regional Trial Court Judge Kathrine Go had denied Ferolino of bail for two counts of murder and frustrated murder, respectively, Benitez said.

The capture of Ferolino and his companion came after the arrest of Ricky Canete, a local chairman of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers in Brgy. General Luna, Sagay City, late last month, who also alleged by the police as member of the NPA.

The filing of murder charges against Cañete stemmed from a raid by the NPA on a detachment in Brgy. General Luna, Sagay City, in 2016, that resulted in the killing of two government militiamen and the injury of another.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said that Ferolino was involved in the killing of the late 1Lt. Archie Polenzo in March 2010 in Brgy. Caduha-an, Cadiz City, and is one of the suspects in the murder of retired M/Sgt Jose Jorito Amable and former SPO1 Alejandro Borres in Brgy, Bulad, Isabela in April 9 last year.

Ferolino was involved in the burning of Victorias Milling Co. power station in Victorias City, on Oct. 5, 2010, another pending case of murder in San Carlos City, as well as robbery-in-band, in connection with the ransacking and disarming of guards at the fishpond of Jay Jay Sarrosa in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, in July 16, 2011, Arevalo said.

The arrest of Ferolino is definitely a big blow to KR-Negros, especially in their killing of military personnel and innocent civilians, he added.

“It sends the message that perpetrators of the terroristic and extortion activities of the CPP-NPA will always have a day of reckoning to answer for the crimes and atrocities they have committed,” Arevalo added.

Based on testimonies of former rebels, Ferolino also led a team of NPA rebels who disarmed PO2 Louie Maluya of his M-14 rifle and 45 caliber pistol, while on foot patrol at the public market of Escalante City, Negros Occidental in Oct. 19, 2008, Arevalo said.

Ferolino and his companion are now also facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, Benitez said.*